This 1986 Saab 900 SPG is listed here on Facebook Marketplace in West Springfield, Massachusetts, with a price of $18,500 or best offer. That’s near the top of 900 valuation, but SPGs this nice command that kind of money. This is an early SPG, and for 1986 there was no horsepower advantage—both the standard turbo and the SPG produced 155 horsepower. The SPG package that year included, instead, an Aero body kit, sport-tuned suspension (shorter, stiffer springs, shocks and sway bars), leather seats, an electric sunroof, and sometimes an upgraded stereo.
The SPG on offer was obviously maintained by an enthusiast, and it’s very clean, despite having 238,000 miles on the odometer (by my count). The engine was replaced at 233,438 miles with a rebuilt (at a cost of $10,000) example that showed 72,924 miles. Some 5,000 or so miles have been covered since.
The car is never driven in the rain, and is stored in a heated garage during cold Massachusetts winters. The car originally came from Alabama, which is another reason it’s said to be rust-free. A crack-free dash is a real rarity, as are the pristine black leather seats—with working heating elements.
I own a 1993 example of the Saab 900 turbo convertible, near the end of the run, converted to a five-speed from the ailing automatic that was in it when purchased. But my car is not quite as lovely as this one. I don’t heat my garage.
There are some notable differences between this ’86 and my ‘93, including the complete front-end styling upgrade that happened in 1987. It included a redesigned grille, new headlights and parking light clusters, and both front and rear bumper renewal. Which look you prefer is a matter of taste.
The car for sale has the rear window louvers that some love and some hate, a wood shifter knob with Saab logo, an intact body kit, cool three-spoke wheels, a red stripe that isn’t factory but works, and what appears to be a functional Saab equalizer, though the stereo itself is aftermarket. The gray paint looks near perfect.
These cars are a blast to drive, especially SPGs. There’s a very healthy parts supply, even though Saab went out of business in 2011. Specialists in fixing these sometimes finicky cars are still plentiful, despite a diminishing supply. The 2025 Saab convention I attended had record attendance.
SPGs like this one are probably the most valuable Saabs right now, though some of the later 9-5 SportCombi wagons are increasing in value. I just bought a 2006 example of the latter, with the rare-as-hens-teeth manual transmission and sport package.
Classic.com puts an ’86 Saab 900 Turbo at $6,600, but excellent SPGs obviously will go for more than that.
Drivers cars for sure, as indicated by the high mileage. Nice Swede 🇸🇪 thanks Jim.
There is a time and a place for rear window louvers… and this is it! Fox-body Mustangs being a good example, some cars just feel incomplete without a good set. 80s examples seem to work best because the body styles were naturally angular, so the louvers fit the motif. Conversely, I think the worst examples I have seen are aftermarket louvers on third-gen F-bodies. The round vehicle styling clashes HARD with the angular louvers, looking, well, cheap and stupid. The OEM branding cutout on this unit is icing on the cake, too. Love it.
Well, that’s a face only a mother could love…neat cars but, I’d be scared to death to own it with that many miles on it. That said, I see the attraction and understand it.
That one is in amazing condition!
I owned a brand new 900 turbo in 1985, I drive that car for 10 years and 265,000 miles. Original turbo, clutch, transmission, engine. Replaced battery a few time and water pump once. Very well made!
I really wish I still had that one.
Loved driving it comfortable!
This one at 18,500 is out of my price range!
Yep – factory equalizer. Have the same one in my ’86 vert. I am sure many don’t even remember these. Battery drain in ’85 and ’86’s is a real issue, likely due to a wiring issue in the harness is my understanding. I have both. Definitely recommend a battery cut off switch. I just drove my ’85 16v Turbo last weekend and was reminded how much fun these are. A lot more nimble than the convertibles, which are heavier but still fun and go down the highway with ease and comfort.
My battery life was shortened by the location, next to turbo exhaust!
Even with heat shield lol.
Really was not too bad.
No wiring issues in my ‘85.
The only thing starting to happen was when I put it in reverse it would want to pop out. Front brakes were interesting as emergency brake was there, the shop that originally did front brake work did not know how to deal with it.
I brought it to a foreign auto shop he knew exactly how to deal with it!.
Even the radiator hoses were original, accept the little one that was a 45 or 90 degree, that one I replaced.
That SPG is worth all of the money. In the Saabiverse, SPGs and C900 ‘verts are at the top of the heap, with respect to desirability.
Jim, I have a ’90 Turbo ‘vert that was similarly converted from a grenaded slushbox to a five speed. Fiona is one of two 1990 convertibles known to exist in North America in Beryl green…..a catalog colour for 1991. According to Peter Backstrom, she was likely painted Beryl as a styling exercise, to be driven about Scandinavia to gauge public reaction to the colour. Somehow, she and her sister slipped aboard a boat headed here.
I’d love to have this car, but I already have 12 Saabs, and I’m running out of storage space.
nothing but a Saab story here